A teenager has revealed how she was forced to end her relationship and left A rare illness left her unable to leave her home or begin a career. She had dozens of deep, painful ulcers and boils on her skin.
Kirsten Cowell (19) from Ammanford, Wales was forced to divorce her boyfriend because of constant pain. She has to eat liquid diets for yoghurt or soup since she is unable to chew.
The teen’s entire facial area is now covered in three-quarter inch-deep pustules that ooze pus. They are also covered in dark brown scabs. This was the first time she noticed it three months ago.
Her dermatologist suspects she may have pyoderma Gangrenosum, which causes large open sores to form all over the body, rotting away tissue and skin. However, she is still waiting for a specialist to diagnose her.
Kirsten Cowell (19) from Ammanford in Wales was forced to divorce her boyfriend. She is in constant pain and must eat liquid diets such as soup and yoghurt because she is unable to chew. Pictured before she fell ill
A teenager shared the story of how she was forced to end a relationship and was unable to leave her home or start a job due to a rare illness that left her with dozens of deep cuts and boils.
This condition is so severe that she was forced to end her 2-year-long relationship with her boyfriend.
Kirsten was to begin a nail technician training course, but now she rarely leaves the house because of the ‘extreme pain’. She is forced to eat soup, yoghurt, and ice cream as moving her mouth to chew is so painful.
They look and feel like they have stabbed me in the face. She said that she feels constant pain in my face and head, even if I move it. It’s worse in the mornings.
“My daily life is now a struggle to deal with the pain and manage the seeping 24/7.
“I can’t do anything anymore. I have to go back to my mum’s because I need care.
“I had to end my two-and-a half-year-long relationship with my partner, who I lived with, because I felt so ugly and not confident. He didn’t deserve to manage me this way.
The teen’s entire facial area is now covered in three-quarter inch-deep holes that ooze pus. They are also covered in dark brown scabs. This was the first thing she noticed three months ago.
Although her dermatologist suspects she may have pyoderma Gangrenosum, which causes large open sores to form all over the body, rotting away tissue and skin. She has yet to receive a diagnosis from a specialist.
WHAT IS PYODERMA GANGRENOSUM?
Pyoderma Gangrenosum is an inflammation that begins as a very painful, rapidly growing ulcer.
It is estimated that it affects around one in 100,000 people in the US and UK.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum is an inflammation condition that begins as a very painful, rapidly growing ulcer.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum is thought to be caused by an existing condition like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative Colitis, or rheumatoid.
The immune system is overreacting, which is what causes the condition.
Untreated ulcers, which are often minor injuries, can enlarge.
The majority of treatment involves non-surgically removing the affected tissues. Avoid surgery as it can enlarge the ulcer.
Untreated ulcers, which are usually minor injuries, can enlarge.
Small ulcers are often treated with topical or intramuscular steroids. Special dressings and oral antiinflammatory antibiotics can also be used.
Larger ulcers may require oral antibiotics.
In all cases, it is important to take care of your wounds.
Source: DermNet New Zeland
“I had to end the relationship for my mental health.
“I didn’t have the greatest confidence before, just like any teenage girl who compares herself to others. But looking back now, I see that I was very beautiful and wouldn’t dare to call myself ugly again.
Kirsten is currently on a course on antibiotics and steroids. She had surgery on Friday to remove 18 scabs from her wounds.
Her face needs to be dressed with bandages once a day and mum Allison, 47, wraps her pillows in puppy pads so that the pus can’t seep through.
This condition is so severe that she was forced to end her 2-year-long relationship with her boyfriend.
Kirsten was to begin a nail technician course, but she hasn’t left the house since the ‘extreme pain’ has made it impossible for her to move her face to chew. She is seen here with Allison, her mother.
Kirsten is currently on a course on antibiotics and steroids. She had surgery on Friday to remove 18 scabs from her wounds.
Allison, a stay at home mum, said that Allison looked like she’d been shot in the head.
“They are very sore, she’s in extreme pain, and the wounds are seeping down to the bottom of her bandages.
It’s been three months since I was last here. Her confidence has fallen to pieces. She doesn’t want me to be here. She’s suicidal and depressed. I can’t blame her. I don’t understand how someone can endure this much pain for so long.
“She was forced to leave her college course before it even began. She is too nervous to even take a bath.
Mama Allison, 47 years old, must cover her face with bandages at least once a day.
Kirsten first noticed the boils 3 months ago. She assumed that they would clear up in a couple weeks. But, two weeks ago, she noticed that they were getting more severe and painful.
She can’t leave her house as the sun damages her skin, so she stays inside. We have to put puppy pads on our pillow as the wounds are getting worse every day.
‘It’s never ending. It’s so hard. I’m trying to keep it together. I don’t know what it will do if it isn’t treated. It’s not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Kirsten first noticed the boils 3 months ago. She assumed that they would clear up in a couple weeks. But, two weeks ago, she noticed that they were getting more severe and painful.
Kirsten first noticed the boils 3 months ago. She assumed that they would clear up in a couple weeks. But, two weeks ago, she noticed that they were getting more severe and painful.
PG can be caused either by a small scratch or a bite from an insect, but Kirsten isn’t sure how she could have contracted it.
She now has 18 open sores covering most her face.
Kirsten stated, “When I first noticed the sores, it looked like a spot or boil. I’ve had them all over my face since I was a teenager. But they usually heal within two weeks.
“These seemed like they kept growing and bursting until eventually they turned to holes. These holes grew bigger, bigger, and have become what you see now. They would continue to grow and become more painful and deeper, which scared me.
PG can be caused either by a small scratch or a bite from an insect, but Kirsten isn’t sure how she could have contracted it.
They are trying to get in touch to a PG specialist to help Kirsten. She is shown here three months ago, when she first noticed the boils.
The mother of the teen said that she had never seen anything so severe in her life. However, we don’t know how it happened because she hasn’t been scratched or bitten and she doesn’t have any immune system issues so it’s unlikely it could happen to her.
Kirsten said that she was extremely sore, in extreme pain, and that the wounds were seeping to the bottom with the bandages.
They are trying to connect with a PG specialist to treat Kirsten’s sores.
Allison said, “We haven’t received a diagnosis, but the dermatologist said that it looks similar to PG.
“I’ve never seen anything this severe in my life, but we don’t know where it came from. She hasn’t been scratched or bitten and her immune system is healthy so there’s no way it could happen.
“It’s a case where you try to get a PG specialist to look at her but there are only 2 in Wales.